CONFESSION OF FAITH and PRACTICE

1. THE WORD OF GOD:

We believe and confess that the Bible is the verbally inspired Word of God. It
is the only rule for faith and practice. The Word of God, especially
the New Testament, is the standard by which the Christian orders
his life. II Peter 1:21; II Tim. 3:16.

2. THE DEITY OF CHRIST:

We believe and confess that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, God in the flesh.
He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the virgin womb of Mary.
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14) Christ
as Deity hung on the cross for our sins. If Christ be not God,
then we are yet in our sins and without hope. John 1:1; Matt.
1:23.

3. FALLEN MAN:

We believe and confess that man is a fallen creature. Created in the image and
likeness of God, man fell to a condition of spiritual death.
This death passed upon all men. Man is a helpless creature set
only on wickedness continually. He needs salvation. Gen. 6:5;
Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3-5.

4. HEAVEN OR HELL:

We believe and confess that heaven and hell are real places. People who die without
Christ will live eternally in a burning lake of fire, being tormented
in the flames. People who die in the Lord will live eternally
in heaven with Christ, experiencing blessings which no man can
utter. Matt. 13:50; Matt. 3:12; Matt. 25:41; Rev. 14:11; John
14:1-3; Matt. 5:12; Rev. 21, 22.

5. SALVATION:

We believe and confess that all who believe in Christ shall be saved. Christ
died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.
He is the sacrifice, the payment for the sins of fallen man.
Man must respond with repentance (a change of heart) toward God
and with faith (a heart attitude of belief) in our Lord Jesus
Christ. Believing is a present, continuous act of the will. I
Cor. 15:1-4; John 3:16; Romans 10:13; Acts 20:21; I Peter 1:5.

6. THE TRINITY:

We believe and confess that God is a Triune God expressed in three Persons: God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. II Cor. 13:14;
Matt. 28:19; Matt. 3:16, 17.

7. SATAN:

We believe and confess that Satan is a real person, a fallen angelic being, who
through rebellion lost his position in heaven. We recognize this
foe and his kingdom of darkness; we are in a spiritual battle
which demands our continual standing in Christ, our power. I
Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:10-18; II Cor. 10:3-5; Ezek. 28:12-17; Isa.
14:12-17.

8. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST:

We believe and confess in a physical return of Jesus Christ to the earth. He
shall come in like manner as He left. We should look to, hope
for, and expect at any time the coming of the Lord. This hope
will cause God’s people to purify themselves. John 14:1-3; Acts
1:9-11; I John 3:3.

9. THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

We believe and confess that the kingdom of God, or Christ, is a spiritual kingdom
and stands in contrast to the kingdoms of the world. In the Sermon
on the Mount, Christ presented a higher standard of holiness
for His kingdom. Citizenship in the kingdom, therefore:

Enjoins an explicit trust in God for material and spiritual maintenance. Matt.
6:25-34.

Trusting in the arm of flesh or human securities is a violation of faith in
Divine preservation. Matt. 6:25-34; Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 12:32,
33; Phil. 4:6, 19; I Peter 5:7.

10. DISCIPLESHIP:

We believe and confess that discipleship is a clear characteristic of all true
Christians. A disciple willingly bears the cross and denies himself,
forsaking all things that hinder his fellowship with God. This
crucifixion of the flesh is the operation of God by faith, a
moment-by-moment surrender of the will to God. Luke 14:26, 27,
33; Rom. 6:11-16; Gal. 2:20, 21; Col. 2:10-12; Gal. 5:24.

11. EVANGELISM:

We believe and confess that the Great Commission given by Christ to His Disciples
(Matt. 28:19, 20) was a commission to all Christians to go and
tell the good news of salvation to a lost and dying world. Brothers
and sisters alike are responsible to share Christ as opportunity
arises in daily living. Psa. 126:6; Mark 16:15; Acts 5:42; Acts
8:4.

12. CHRISTIAN APPEARANCE:

We believe and confess that God’s people should regulate their appearance by
clear scriptural principles.

Brethren and sisters wear modest apparel which covers and conceals the body.
I Tim. 2:9, 10.

Notice how God clothes the body. Mark 16:5; Rev. 1:13. Sisters are recommended
to wear a double layer garment to conceal the form of the body.
Thus modesty without question should be our expression.

Clothing shall exemplify gospel simplicity and be free of all evidence of pride,
display, or adornment. II Cor. 1:12; I Peter 3:3; I John 2:16.

The Bible forbids the wearing of gold, pearls, or costly array. I Tim. 2:9.
Notice the attire of the Babylonian harlot. Rev. 17:4. See also the rich man’s
apparel. Luke 16:19.

Further, the Bible forbids following the changing fashions of the world. Rom.
12:2; I Thess. 5:22; Titus 2:11, 12; I Peter 1:14.

Brethren are to be free from the shame of long hair. Sisters will wear their
hair long. They cover their heads with a distinctive Christian
veiling. I Cor. 11:6, 14, 15.

13. THE CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE:

We believe and confess that the height of Christian experience is attained,
maintained, and expressed in a life of devotion to God, which
is a continual pressing of the heart in love and fellowship with
God. Prayer, a study of the Word, meditations, fastings, and
the singing from the heart are expressions of devotion to God.
We believe then that this heart that is lifted up to God will
gradually and consistently bring forth the holy actions commanded
in the Scriptures. John 4:23, 24; I Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22, 23;
Rom. 8:4.

14. THE CHRISTIAN HOME:

We believe and confess the importance of the godly home in the promotion of
moral purity and faith. It is a haven of mutual love and godliness,
a shelter from the corruption of the society. The home should
be ordered according to the dictates of Eph. 5 and Col. 3. We
believe that godly parents who see their responsibility will
rear faithful children not accused of riot or unruliness. Titus
1:6; II Tim. 3:14, 15.

Fathers must assume final responsibility for the direction of worship, for decisions,
and the discipline of the children. I Cor. 11:3; I
Tim. 3:4; Eph. 6:4.

Children are to be in subjection and obedient to their parents with all gravity.
Eph. 6:1; I Tim. 3:4, 5.

15. THE CHURCH:

We believe and confess that the church is the Body of Christ, both local and
worldwide. I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22, 23.

The church consists of those persons from all nations who are redeemed by the
blood of Christ and who have responded to the call of salvation with the obedience
of faith. John 3:16; Acts 10:34, 35; Rom. 10:13; Rev. 5:9; Acts 20:28.

We also recognize a great apostasy in these last days. Not all who name the name
of Jesus are true Christians, but only those who manifest true scriptural fruit.
(See I John).

We stand in opposition to the liberal theology that leads to worldliness and
the traditional theology that leads to formalism and deadness.

16. CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES:

We believe and confess that ordinances were instituted by divine authority for
the purpose of expressing heavenly thoughts and meanings, given
to draw our attention toward spiritual pictures of divine truth.
These ordinances are as follows:

Baptism.
Rom. 6; Matt. 28:19; I Peter 3:21; Col. 2:12.

Communion. I Cor. 11:23-26.

Feet washing. John 13:14-16.

The devotional covering. I Cor. 11:2-16.

The holy kiss. Rom. 16:16; I Peter 5:14.

Anointing with oil. James 5:14, 15.

17. MARRIAGE:

We believe and confess that marriage is an institution ordained of God. It was
set apart, or sanctified, in the creation. It was set forth by
God for the propagation of the human race, for the purity of
the human family, and for the bringing up of godly children.
Gen. 2:24; Heb. 13:4. God recognizes all first marriages where
vows have been made and the marriage consummated. In God’s eyes
only death can break the marriage covenant. We further believe
that God forbids divorce or marriages with divorced persons having
former companions still living. Marriage by or with such persons
is the forming of an adulterous relationship. We admonish all
to scriptural meditation on this subject. Matt. 19:8, 9; Mark
10:11, 12; Rom. 7: 2, 3; I Cor. 7:39

18. THE BROTHERHOOD:

We believe and confess that the church is a brotherhood, submitting one to another
in the fear of God. Each individual is set for the edification
of the whole.

Brethren address each other privately concerning inconsistencies or
error that they may observe in one another. Matt. 18:15; Heb.
3:13; II Tim. 3:16; I Peter 5:5.

Church discipline must be exercised, and the Bible gives specific guidelines
for different types of discipline. The motivation for such
discipline is love, restoration, and purification of the church.
Matt. 18:15-20; James 5:19, 20; Gal. 6:1.

All property is held in stewardship as God’s. There is a conscious effort made
to discern the needs of others and to share to the point of
an equality of living standard. The Bible warns of the danger
of accumulating riches and therefore demands distribution according
to ability. Matt. 5:42; Matt. 6:19-21; Luke 12:33; Acts 20:35;
Rom. 15:26; I Cor. 16:1-3; II Cor. 8:11-15; I Tim. 6:17-19;
Heb. 13:16; I John 3:16, 17.

Christian love is a servant. It seeks opportunities to help all men and to inspire
courage and faith in others. Matt. 20:26-28; Luke 10:25-37;
Gal. 6:10.

Love guards its speech. The brethren do not gossip, slander, or even speak ill
of one another or of any other person. I Tim. 5:13; Titus 1:10;
Titus 2:8; Titus 3:2; James 4:11; I Peter 2:1; I Peter 3:10.

Brethren desire to honor others, esteem others before themselves, and live in
humble submission. They readily forgive and rejoice in the
blessings of others. Rom. 12:10; I Cor. 13:4-7; Col. 3:12,
13; Phil. 2:1-4.
This brotherhood is maintained on the human level in a community of love. Acts
4:32. Herein lies the strongest appeal of truth to the world. John 13:34, 35.

19. GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

We confess the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit found in I Cor. 12 to be valid
through the New Testament dispensation.

20. DIVINATION AND WITCHCRAFT RENOUNCED:

Brethren are free from all types of witchcraft, sorcery, divining, and other
occultic and New Age practices. These practices shall be renounced
in the name of Jesus to maintain church purity. Ephesians 5:11,12;
Galatians 5:19-21.

We recommend Set 133, A
Declaration of the Faith, for a more detailed presentation of many of the points listed here. To order
this series, click here.